"In response to widespread illegal and unconscionable activity, including the slaughtering of tens of thousands of dogs, I can today announce that NSW is putting an end to greyhound racing," Premier Mike Baird said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

The Special Commission of Inquiry, which handed its findings to the state government last week, found that between 48,000 and 68,000 greyhounds were killed in the last 12 years because they were deemed uncompetitive.

Up to 20 per cent of trainers had engage in live baiting and 180 greyhounds a year suffered catastrophic injuries during races, such as skull fractures and broken backs, the 800-page report said.

The inquiry was launched last year following disturbing reports of live baiting and mass killings in the NSW industry.

Commissioner Michael McHugh wanted state parliament to consider whether the industry had lost its social licence to operate and should be shut down, noting there was a very real risk practices such as live baiting would continue.

"Such is the culture of the industry and some of its leaders that it is no longer, if it ever was, entitled to the trust of the community", the report found.

Mr Baird said the state government would announce details of an industry shutdown plan later this year, with the ban due to come into effect on July 1, 2017.

"I feel much empathy for innocent trainers and those who will lose their job or hobby as a result of this," he said on Facebook.

"And I understand the disappointment of people who enjoy having a punt on the dogs.

"But we simply cannot and will not stand by and allow the widespread and systemic mistreatment of animals."